Ukraine has submitted a revised application to join the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), a club of mostly advanced economies. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy expressed hope for candidate country status by autumn.
Ukraine's pursuit of OECD membership signals its continued commitment to aligning with Western economic and governance standards, potentially bolstering its post-war recovery and international standing. The move also highlights the country's strategic focus on European integration amidst the ongoing conflict.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced on Tuesday that Ukraine has submitted a revised application to join the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), a group comprising mostly advanced economies. This move is part of Ukraine's ongoing efforts to deepen its integration with Western institutions.
Ukraine has been engaged with the OECD for several years, working on reforms and governance standards, and is now seeking candidate country status as a precursor to full membership. Following a meeting with OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann in Kyiv, Zelenskiy stated via Telegram that Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko had submitted the updated bid. "We hope to obtain candidate country status as early as this autumn. The next stage will be a roadmap toward OECD membership. We discussed this during our meeting," Zelenskiy wrote.
Amid its full-scale war with Russia, Ukraine is actively pursuing European integration, which Kyiv views as the most effective security guarantee for both itself and Europe. Last week, Zelenskiy reiterated Ukraine's desire for expedited EU membership, aiming to open the remaining negotiating clusters by July 15. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin commented on Tuesday that he did not see grounds for direct talks with Zelenskiy, citing Kyiv's strikes on civilian targets.